Sabbath, 8of9

 ~ The Disciples Worshipped God On The First Day Of The Week ~

 

Introduction  ~  In the Old Testament the Sabbath was established as part of The Law.  The Sabbath is observed from sundown Friday evening through sundown Saturday evening.  In the New Testament the law of God is written on believers’ hearts (Romans 2:12-16) rather than on tablets of stone.  It is the heart’s attitude which now supersedes outward obedience (Romans 10:10).  Following Christ’s resurrection, which occurred on the first day of the week, the Disciples and later the Church have observed their day of rest on Sunday in remembrance of Christ’s resurrection (Acts 20:7). 

 

Passage  ~  “Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.  There were many lamps in the upper room where they were gathered together.  And in a window sat a certain young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep.  He was overcome by sleep; and as Paul continued speaking, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead.  But Paul went down, fell on him, and embracing him said, ‘Do not trouble yourselves, for his life is in him.’  Now when he had come up, had broken bread and eaten, and talked a long while, even till daybreak, he departed.  And they brought the young man in alive, and they were not a little comforted” (Acts 20:7-12). 

 

Comment  ~  The Disciples maintained the concept of a weekly day set apart to contemplate God.  In honor of the resurrection of Jesus Christ on the first day of the week they chose to honor God on Sunday to focus on God as in the past but even more importantly the finished work of redemption by the Son of God in conquering death and rising on the first day of the week.  

 

“And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty.  Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up — if in fact the dead do not rise.  For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen.  And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!  Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.  If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable” (1 Corinthians 15:14-19). 

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog. 

 

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Bible Version: Quotations are from the NKJV unless otherwise noted.  Emphasis is added.

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